The latest deal involves several stages, with a limited ceasefire in the first stage and the release of some hostages. Both sides have claimed the other is holding up talks, but the US says Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has agreed to the “bridging proposal”.
Hamas in return accused Mr Netanyahu of walking back his support for the US’s plan, which could also include the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone separating Gaza from Egypt.
The terror group has named Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct 7 attacks, as its new political leader after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader, last month.
Ruby Chen, the father of a US-Israeli citizen who was killed during the attacks while serving in the IDF, said the US should change its strategy if the latest talks fall through. His son’s body is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
“If you’re trying to get an objective, and if after some point in time you see you’re not reaching that objective, you look at the game plan and see if you’re heading towards that goal,” he said.
“And if not, then there should be a Plan B. Each time that I meet a US administration official, I ask: ‘What is Plan B?’
“God, help me, I do hope that they do have a Plan B. Maybe it is time to look at that Plan B, if we’re not able to resolve this in the next couple of days.”
The US-backed talks have focussed on a multi-stage deal, which some believe is holding up a ceasefire because neither side trusts that a truce would hold.